Courses given by the Department of Eurasian Studies
| Course Code | Course Name | METU Credit | Contact (h/w) | Lab (h/w) | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAS500 | PROTHESIS SEMINAR | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 10.0 |
Course ContentThe objective of this seminar is to familiarize students with the basic concepts, theories and approaches within the field of Eurasian Studies. The seminar attempts to assist students in discovering their specific areas of interest and to enrich their knowledge about Eurasia. In weekly seminars, conducted by scholars from different disciplines, students will be familiarized with different approaches on Eurasia. It is hoped that this will allow the students to discover their area of interest and meet the related faculty. Students are expected to attend the seminars and read the assigned article for each seminar in advance. Students will write a term paper of approximately 3500-5000 words in length, word processed, and correctly referenced. Paper topics will be arranged on an individual basis with one of the faculty. | |||||
| EAS501 | SOCIETY AND CULTURE IN EURASIA | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThis course aims at a comprehensive study of contemporary Eurasia with a special emphasis on historical and world context. Focusing upon the great transformation Eurasian societies have experienced, the course will cover the following issues: social, cultural and political effects of transition to free market economy; the rise of nationalism and ethnic cleavages; religious entities, demography, family, migration patterns and other related issues. | |||||
| EAS502 | THE POL. OF STATE BUILDING IN EURASIA | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThe focus of this course will be on the some theoretical concerns related to nations, nationalism, democracy, governmental mechanisms, institution building and ethnicity in relation to the dynamics of state-building and nationality problems and policies in the context of post-Soviet period states. The course is divided by issue and not by geographical area or republic. These issues include state-building, history, elite structures and electoral behavior where applicable. | |||||
| EAS504 | RUSSIAN POLITICS | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThis course covers the political, economic and social situation and dynamics in Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The course starts with an introduction to transition politics in Russia in a comparative way. The following topics including the Crisis and Collapse of the Soviet Union - Leadership and Main Political Narratives - Stateness, Constitution, and Rule of Law - Parliament, Executive Branch, and Hegemonic Presidency - Federation or Unitary State? - Foreign Policy and International Context - Ethnicity, Religion, and National Unity - The Politics of the Economy - Political Parties, Elections, and Polls - Civil Society | |||||
| EAS505 | RUSSIAN I | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 10.0 |
Course ContentAn introduction to the Russian Alphabet and the basic grammar of Russian. | |||||
| EAS506 | RUSSIAN FOR EURASIAN STUDIES II | 0 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 10.0 |
Course ContentA continuation of 8350505 and reading of simple texts in Russian. | |||||
| EAS508 | RUSSIAN POLITICAL ECONOMY AND EURASIAN AFFAIRS | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThe main aim of this course is to introduce master students with the political economy of Russia and Security Affairs in Eurasia after the dissolution of Soviet Union.Eurasia will be studied with a special focus on Russia and its role in the related security matters in Eurasia. The course is split into three parts: 1. Studying the modern Russian politics and economy as a factor of the change in Eurasia. 2. Evaluation of the geopolitics of Eurasia and the interests of the involved global actors. 3. Understanding the security concerns of the regional states in Eurasia. | |||||
| EAS509 | INTRODUCTION TO POST-SOVIET STUDIES | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThe principal aim of this course is to provide the students of the Eurasian Master s Program with the necessary tools and methods (main theoretical models and debates in area studies) when studying the region which will be helpful also in the context of the other courses offered by the same Program. It also aims to offer to the students of the region not only a comprehensive conceptualization of the concept of Eurasia but also some essential and basic knowledge about each country both in an historical context and in the light of current developments and transformations. | |||||
| EAS510 | INNER ASIA AND CHINA | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThe principal aim of this course is to provide and support the students of the Eurasian Master´s Program with the history of Inner Asia – the interior of the Eurasian landmass which is historical terms comprises of Central Asia, Mongolia, and Tibet- and its relations with the neighboring China, which help the students of the program to explore an important part of the Eurasian peninsula. | |||||
| EAS511 | IMPERIAL CITIES IN EURASIA | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThis course offers a comparative study of imperial cities in Eurasia. The principal aim is to provide students with the necessary theoretical and methodological tools to explore possible ways of studying imperial systems though an investigation of cities and urban life. Students will be exposed to a number of imperial systems in a geography covering modern day countries of Afghanistan, Armenia, India, Iran, Iraq, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. They will be encouraged to explore the historical, archaeological, architectural and sociological data for a better understanding of economic, social, political, and religious structures of empires. | |||||
| EAS512 | THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF INTERNATIONAL OIL:THE CASE OF CASPIAN REGION | 3 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThe propose of this course is twofold. Firstly, it aims to familiarize the students with the dynamics active in the global space with regard to oil through provision of an analysis of historical evaluation of how oil became a crucial strategic and economic commodity. While doing so establishment of Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries, its influence on the global oil market will be discussed. Secondly, the course will have emphasis on the experiences of oil producing states of the Caspian region with a comparative approach with the experiences of the previous oil producers. | |||||
| EAS513 | STATE AND NATION-BUILDING IN SOUTH CAUCASUS | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentThe purpose of this course is to analyze the nation and state building process in the three south Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. First, general information on the history and geographical conditions of the region will be given; then the developments during the Tsarist Russian and Soviet eras will be analyzed. In this context, the transformative impact of the Bolshevik Revolution, the Sovietization period, the collapse of the Soviet Union and ethnic conflicts will be specifically emphasized in a detailed way. Finally, the course will also discuss the latest developments in the social and political institutions of these three countries. | |||||
| EAS514 | POLITICAL ECONOMY OF POST SOVIET TRANSITION | 3 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 8.0 |
Course ContentHow did the post-communist countries of Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia undergo the dual transition to democratic governments and market-based economies? This course will address the post-communist countries in general, but will focus on Russia and the Newly Independent States to make the material more accessible to students with no background in the region. The course will proceed chronologically, discussing first the early transition in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Then it will turn to the challenges that the post-communist countries faced throughout the mid to late 1990s. Compared to other similar courses, this course will be less descriptive and more analytical. Throughout the semester, we will discuss questions such as: What was communism as a political and economic system? Why did the Soviet Union collapse? What is the connection between political and economic reforms? Is democracy necessary for a well-functioning economy? Can democracy survive when economic reforms fail? How are post-Soviet leaderships able to come to power and maintain power? | |||||